Odisha police under no duress in Rishi murder probe: CP

Under attack for shoddy investigation into the much-talked about murder of Ashutosh Mohanty alias Rishi which subsequently snowballed into a major controversy, Twin City Commissioner today assured that there is absolutely no pressure in the investigation which has begun afresh.

“Police are under no pressure. In crime and criminal matters, we never feel pressurised and I can give my personal assurance on this. In this inquiry also we are under no pressure. I can assure you we are determined to find out the truth as the curiosity are there among the people. We are trying to dig into the matter and the facts which are in the video clipping,” Twin City Commissioner YB Khurania today told reporters here.

He further said that the inquiry officer has been replaced with an ACP ranked officer and the State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFSL) has been asked to provide viscera report on priority basis.

“When the unnatural death case was registered, there were no allegations from deceased’s family members or anyone else. We had followed the standard operating procedures (SOP) in the investigation of an unnatural death case. The body was sent for post mortem and samples were sent for viscera test at SFSL. We are yet to receive report from them. The reason behind the dealy is that they receive thousands of cases and go according to serial numbers. When new allegations surfaced in this case, we have asked the SFSL to furnish the viscera report on priority basis. We are investigating into the case and accommodating the allegations coming up in the public and media,” he added.

Opposition parties, claiming Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena to have links with murder case and a controversial video, have been protesting demanding his ouster.